local
Kaiserman JCC
Opening Maccabi
Hall of Fame
You've worked hard for these carefree days and now it's time to
enjoy them. A day at our continuing care retirement community
might include a session in the floral design studio, a book discussion
group, and outdoor yoga. Plus, Philadelphia's cultural resources are
close at hand. Contact us today to find out more.

JARRAD SAFFREN | STAFF WRITER
D aniel Weiss is Jewish, but he’s
not very religious. For him,
Judaism is “a sense of family
and culture,” he said.

So when the Kaiserman JCC board
of directors member came up with a
way to celebrate that sense of family
and culture, he wanted to move on the
idea. The longtime JCC Maccabi soccer
coach’s idea was a hall of fame honor-
ing many of the great Philadelphia-area
athletes who have competed at the
games over the years.

In February, when Weiss pitched the
plan to Kaiserman CEO Alan Scher,
the CEO did not say “yes.” He said
“when.” Weiss said he would put together an
inaugural induction ceremony in just a
few months.

On June 16, it will happen at the
Wynnewood facility. The outdoor
event will feature corn hole, most of
the 13 inductees in the flesh and former
Philadelphia 76ers announcer Marc
Zumoff as emcee.

The inaugural class is going to
include two or three times as many
athletes, teams and contributors as a
normal class will in the future, Weiss
said. He said you need a big first class
to establish the hall.

Among the inductees are David
Groverman, who “basically financed”
the first Philadelphia team for the
JCC games in 1984, Weiss said; Rose
Weinstein, who has coached girls and
boys tennis teams for more than 35
years; and Devon Polak, a swimmer
who earned 31 medals in JCC Maccabi
competition. Teams are also on the list,
like the 2002 boys soccer squad that
did not allow a goal during its entire
gold medal run.

The JCC Maccabi Games are an
international competition for Jewish
athletes between the ages of 13 and 16.

The Philadelphia area sends teams in
soccer, basketball and tennis, among
other sports.

Kaiserman has long served as the
headquarters for the local delegation,
as most of the athletes are from the
Main Line and Bucks County, accord-
ing to Weiss.

Female athletes from Team Philadelphia at the JCC Maccabi Games
Courtesy of JCC Maccabi-Team Philadelphia
6 JUNE 9, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



Spring Into Carefree Living
A boys soccer team from the Philadelphia delegation at a recent JCC Maccabi
Games Courtesy of JCC Maccabi-Team Philadelphia
The inaugural class is going to include
two or three times as many athletes,
teams and contributors as a normal
class will in the future.

“If you have a good idea, why wait?”
Weiss said. “Let’s build it.”
Scher agrees with that sentiment.

He has promised to commit to the
hall as a regular feature of the JCC.

There is no designated room yet in the
Wynnewood facility, but Scher and the
board are exploring options.

In the future, Weiss wants to see
something like his high school sports
hall of fame at Harriton High School,
which he is in for his exploits in soc-
cer, football and track. Harriton’s hall
showcases pictures of the athletes
and descriptions of their high school
careers. “People will come in and see, ‘Hey,
my cousin’s in the hall,’” Weiss said.

“It gives people a sense of connection.”
Weiss is taking the same why wait
approach to the construction of the
hall as he did to the initial ceremony.

He hopes to have it done by the winter.

More than 100 people are signed
up to attend the June 16 induction, so
Scher expects interest to remain strong.

And if that ends up happening, the JCC
will be able to build a display around
the annual event that it can add to
“year after year after year,” he said.

Since taking over last July, Scher has
tried to figure out the JCC’s business
model around camp, preschool and
assorted fitness activities. He thinks
the hall can be part of that vision.

“Our hope is we’re not only cele-
brating a culture, but we’ll continue
to engage the alumni,” he said of JCC
Maccabi competitors. “We see them as
important leaders associated with the
Maccabi experience, and this will be a
vehicle for that.”
And there should be no shortage
of future inductees. Weiss said the
four-man selection committee, which
includes both Maccabi and Kaiserman
leaders, whittled a large field down
from 100 nominations to 30 to 20 ...

and finally to 13. But many worthy
names were left out of the inaugural
class. There also will be new names to add.

This year’s squad will feature five teams
— hockey, boys soccer, girls soccer,
boys basketball and girls basketball —
and 62 athletes. The 2022 JCC Maccabi
Games are set for July 31-Aug. 5 in
San Diego.

“Most of our teams expect to com-
pete and be in the mix,” said Marc
Swarbrick, a Kaiserman JCC board
member and hall organizer alongside
Weiss. And if they do, they may just be able
to come back and reflect on the experi-
ence years later.

“This is something you can do as a
Jewish person and be involved in the
community and represent your com-
munity,” Weiss said. JE
jsaffren@midatlanticmedia.com Picture Yourself at
Masonic Village
best of suburban living amidst stunning
architecture and manicured landscapes.

Inside, safety, comfort and all the necessary
services await, so you can live worry-free
today and in the future. Masonic Village
Resident Ruth F
Even if you’re considering a move years
list today, so we’re ready when you are.

CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION
484-534-2087 801 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA | MasonicVillageLafayetteHill.org |
Open for Ever yone
Jewish Careers.com
For Those Who Value Community
The preferred career resource for the
Jewish community.

info.jewishcareers.com 410-902-2300
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 7